The most magical cupcake shops across the nation

I'm Sarah - wife to my amazing husband, John, and mom to two little girls, Cami and Maisie. I used to work in the finance industry before having my daughters, and now I'm a freelance personal finance writer and blogger. I love being wi...

From coast to coast, these are the cupcakes to know and nosh

Gourmet cupcakes are all the rage, and as many of us have learned the hard way, they are so worth standing in a two-hour line for at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning. While we'll never complain about eating a cupcake, only a select few cupcakes can be classified as superior, crème de la crème and worth dreaming about. (Hey, we're not here to judge.)

These are the kind of memory-making cupcakes you'll travel long distances to get your hands on. We searched high and low to find the best of the best cupcake shops in the U.S., and we're certain you will not be disappointed.

Now you can die happy.

1. Magnolia Bakery

Magnolia Bakery opened its first shop in 1996 in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan. It has since expanded to nine other locations throughout the U.S., including Los Angeles and Chicago, and almost two dozen international locations. Its greatest claim to fame is its cameo in Sex and the City, but a Magnolia cupcake is so much more than a pretty cake. Each and every item at Magnolia Bakery is made from scratch throughout the day, using the finest ingredients. In other words, you'll never have a day-old cupcake at this shop. Though its specialty is divine cupcakes, the bakery also whips up a mean bread pudding, classic pies, mini cheesecakes, cookies straight from the cookie jar and more! Order online here to have them shipped directly to your door.

2. Crumbs Bake Shop

Crumbs Bake Shop first opened in Manhattan in March of 2003. Though it does feature more than just cupcakes, the cupcakes are what the shop is known for. And we see why! Crumbs cupcakes are elegant and beautifully made, with a taste unlike any other. They're made fresh daily with only the finest ingredients. Signature flavors include Hugs and Kisses, Blackout, Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Cup, Apple Cobbler, Dulce de Leche and more. Is your mouth watering yet? Luckily Crumbs offers nationwide delivery!

3. Georgetown Cupcake

Georgetown Cupcake was co-founded by sisters Katherine Berman and Sophie LaMontagne in Washington, D.C., in 2008. In just five years, they opened six other locations, with Georgetown Cupcakes sold at the DC Cupcakes Café at the Discovery Times Square Museum in New York. Featuring more than 100 flavors of cupcakes (that can be shipped nationwide), Georgetown Cupcake uses fresh and unique ingredients — such as cocoa from France and vanilla from Madagascar. The sisters star in TLC's DC Cupcakes and have appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, The Rachael Ray Show and dozens of others. They are also best-selling authors of The Cupcake Diaries and Sweet Celebrations. The owners' favorites are Chocolate Hazelnut (Sophie) and Salted Caramel (Katherine).